General News
11 August, 2024
Farewell to farming entrepreneur
Judith Frances Murphy (nèe Walsh) was born in St Arnaud on November 16 1940, the eldest daughter of Mick and Mollie Walsh.
Judith, known as Judy, lived most of her childhood on her parent’s Litchfield property, 13 kilometres from Donald, along with her siblings Helen and Grattan.
During the war, Judy’s father Mick was called to work for an aircraft factory near Melbourne.
The family moved to Yarraville where Judy attended kindergarten, and moved back to St Arnaud after the war where Judy attended the St Arnaud Convent.
The family shifted back to the Litchfield farm, and Judy attended Litchfield Primary School.
Judy then commenced school at the Donald Convent as a weekly boarder, and this is where her love of music started with violin lessons.
She then completed her education at St Francis Xavier Convent, St Arnaud, as a boarder.
Judy started work at Forers General Store in Donald as a clerk. She played many sports including badminton, table tennis, tennis and netball.
Judy enjoyed a very active social life and she attended two or three dances each week, dressing in the latest fashion gowns. She also sang and played violin at many events.
Judy married Bryan Murphy at St Mary’s Church in Donald on the feast of the Assumption on August 15, 1963.
Judy and Bryan started their married life at the Murphy wheat and sheep farm at Angip near Warracknabeal.
They had 5 daughters - Angela, Cecilia, Bridget, Dolores and Sarah - and life was extremely busy, nurturing and raising the girls, and working on the farm.
Judy and Bryan were a true partnership in marriage and farm business, including introducing diversity to the farm.
Judy instigated the establishment of Angora goat farming in 1975, and went on to export goats to New Zealand in the 1980s.
Judy’s interest in antiques and old wares developed after the death of Molly Walsh’s sister Frances Hewitt in 1990, when Judy became custodian of a 1950s hat collection, mini grand piano and many items of old furniture and historical items.
Being an entrepreneur and second-hand dealer, she bought a church from Dimboola and had it relocated to the farm, where she started Angip Lane Antiques in 1991 to house these items to honour her former Aunt.
Farming South African Boer goats was a new venture for Judy and Bryan. They bought stock and undertook a number of embryo transfer programs.
From 1997 onwards they exported goats to Malaysia in crates under passenger planes.
Judy and Bryan received the 1999 Hugh McKay Innovators Award for their pioneering work in establishing a profitable Boer goat industry in Australia.
In 2000, Judy and Bryan sold the Angip farm, and relocated to a smaller farm at Green Lake near Horsham where they continued breeding Boer goats.
They relocated to Horsham in 2006 and spent time managing Dorper sheep and Boer goats at the Quantong farm.
Judy and Bryan retired in 2015, and Judy was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2021.
Judy and Bryan moved to the Natimuk Nursing Home in July 2023, where they have been well cared for.
Judy passed away peacefully on April 21 2024, aged 83, surrounded by family.
Judy is survived by husband Bryan, five children, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
